Power transmission equipment



Dec. 18, 1934. E. s. BUSH 1,935,015

POWER TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT Filed April 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 18, 1934. ESBUSH 1,985,015

BOWER TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT Filed April 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IS nventor .Patented Dec. 18,1934 I Y 1,985,015-

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER TRANSMISSION EQUIPIHENT Eugene S. Bush, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Bush I Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., 9. corporation of Missouri Application April 6, 1932, Sei'lal No. 603,548 8 Claims. (Cl. 192-.71)

This invention relates to improvements in by a key to an intermediate gear shaft 11, ro-

' power transmission equipment, and more Pmtatably mounted in an intermediate partition ticularly to an improved gear and shaft connecor bracket member 12, extended transversely of tion of a type adapted to facilitate the connecthe case 8. The shaft 11 may be provided, as

5 tion f ifl r peed ele in gear elements shown, with a plurality of splines 13, the splined '5 I of a) transmission. end of shaft 11 serving to carry a driven clutch An object of the invention is attained in the member 14 provided at its opposite ends with provision of a speed-gear and shaft connection, friction clutch heads 15 and 16. It will be seen 868 clut of rugged and sturdy const ethat, the adjacent faces of gears 9 and 10 are 10 tion a it possesses a c p y o c e for centrally recessed, the walls of the recesses be- Substantial torque '1 l ad, and yet is compact ing of convergent trend and their slope conformin de so tha t Wi l cc py a minimum o ing to the peripheral angularity of members p and 16. The heads 15 and 16 are provided with A further object of the invention is attained friction facings 17, adapted when one or the 15 i h provision of an improved gear clutch other of the heads is moved into engagement 15 ass m y spe ially adapt d for use with s dwith the recess in the adjacent gears 9 or 10, chan ar f s al d o stant .m s t p to constitute therewith a double, reversing coneobviating any nec ss ty o t bodily mOVemeht type friction clutch, which may be described .of gears, and minimizin sp c requirementsbroadly as a reverse gear assembly. The space 20 The foregoing and other objects and adlati b tween gears 9 and 10 and between 20 vantages of the invention will more clearly ap- 1 315 d 1 are such that it is impossible pear s the d sc i t on p oc ed d from the for the member 14 to be in driven engagement a mpany draw n forming a pa t of this with more than one of the gears 9-10 at a. given p fi n. In e d w time. This spacing is further such that when 1 is. a s ctional vat n of a pr f rred the clutch member 14 is in an intermediate posi- 25 form of transmission unit, to which the present t n asshown iii-Fig. 1, it is operatively engaged invention is pplied. Fi 1 being considered as with neither of the gears 9 or 10 and thus occutaken along either a horizontal or. a vertical i s a neutral relation thereto. plane, according .to the choice of position of the. t w111 appear from Figs. 1 and2 that the assembly; Fi 2 is a vertical sec i na l vati n gears 9 and 10 are-always operatively connected a0 a 'v e 'd along e 2-20! and Fig 3 s with each other through a pinion 18, disposed a transverse ection throu h the driv n sha t at a right angle .to each of the gears 9 1o, so and ass at d s a n as vi w d al l that. the gear 9 always rotates in a direction 0 Fi 1. opposite that of gear 10. The pinion 18 is car- A Referring nowlb'y characters of reference to ried by astub shaft 19 mounted as through a 35 t d a n s. th ampl lust t a preset or ball bearings '1 in a wall of the case 8, the ferred form of transmission unit of a type t shaft 19 projecting optionally through the wall which the invention is Particularly ppl l of the case 8 for the reception of a power pulley and includes a driving power pulley 4, secured '20; In certain installations it may be desirable 40 as y a key 5. too s u ft 6. moun ed, f r to drive the unit through the pulley such as 20, 40

ple in an anti-friction bearing a sembly shown as disposed with its axis at a right angle such as 7, detachably mounted in the end wall to that of the pulley 4. Whether power be apof a transmission case 8, which may be, and is plied to the unit through the pulley 4 or 20, it by preference, so constructed as to contain a will appear that the same operative relation prebody or bath of lubricant for splash-oiling the vails inthat the gears 9. and 10 are always ro- 45 parts therein. Additional, similar ball bearing tated in opposite directions, and that the shaft assemblies 7 are appropriately disposed inter- 11 may be selectively driven in a clockwise or mediate the walls of the case and at the opposite counterclockwise direction, as desired. end thereof as shown i a 1. a d as may The shaft 11, projecting through the bracket otherwise be desirable accordinglto changes in 12 and to the opposite end wall of the case 8, 60

size and proportion of the transmission parts. serves to carry an assembly of coaxial gears Formed on or carried by the, shaft 8, inwardly which may conveniently be mounted on a. sleeve of the case, is a bevel gear 9, rotatable with the seemed as by a suitable key (not shown) to the pulley 4. Arranged in spaced opposition to the shaft 11, and so rotatable therewith. The

gear 9 is a companionbevel gear 10, secured as transmission unit presently illustrated includes 56 flected outwardly during change inposition o'f provision for four predetermined speed ratios to carry (from left to right, Fig. 1) driving gears 21, 22, 23 and 24, being in the order named, of downwardly graduated diameter, according to the desired speed ratios through the-unit.

Disposed adjacent the assembly 21-24 and so as to mesh respectively with gears 21' through 24, is a series of coaxial driven gears 25, 26, 2'7 and 23. The first of the group oi'driven gears, viz., 25,v is preferably journalled in the end wall of the case, as by anti-friction bearings '7, a lateral extension being carried by the gear for this purpose, and a second oppositely disposed lateral projection serving to receive, in journallinig re-.-

lation, a coinpanion portion of gear. 26. Gear 26 is rotatably disposed in a bearing in a partition or bracket 29, and also serves to receivein journalling relation a projection of gear 2'1.

Gear 28 is journalled at one side, within a projection of gear 27, and at the other side, in an anti-friction bearing in bracket 12. The gears 25-28 are thus rotatively disposed in assembled coaxial adjacence. Each of the gears 25--28 is further provided with a. central aperture or passage coacting in assembly to form a longitudinal bore 30 for a purpose hereinafter more fully appearing. The bore 30 may be extended outwardly of the case through a hollow journal member 31 secured as by cap screws 32 to the wall of the case, the member 31 serving as a mounting for a power take-off, or driven pulley 33. The-outer end face of'pulley 33 is shown as provided with .a detachable 'plate member 34 provided axially with a squared or equivalent polygonal opening through which may project a correspondingly formed end portion 35 of an axially shiftable counter-shaft 36, extended in floating relation through the bore 30.

The shaft 38 is characterized by a gear-en- 8. 81118 clutch head indicated generally in Fig. 1

atii'l, and characterized by angularly spaced radial projections 38, best shown in section in Fig. 3. These projections o'r abutments are each laterally grooved as at 39, for the reception of the preferably rounded ends of pawl. members 40. In the example illustrated, four such pawl members are disposed in spaced relation about the central e through each of the gears 25, 26,

27 and 28. By preference also the arms .38 are rounded or tapered off at their opposite ends so as substantially to merge with the adjacent peripheral surface of shaft 36, so that, as will appear, the arms 38 will not, when the shaft is shifted, objectionably abut the end surfaces of pawls 40,-but will serve gradually to displace the pawlstopermit free movement of the head37 into'any. selected one of the gears 25-28. The

paw'ls 40 are urged radially inwardly of the posisage bywhich they are carried as by springs 41, (Fig. 3) so that, while the pawls may be dethe member 38, they will, after the clutch head isbrought into the selected gear,-.tend to assume their positions of driving engagement, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that the preferred arrangement is such that the countershaft 36 projects through and beyond the bracket or partition 12 and is provided with a transverse shiftingpin 42, terminating outwardly of the shaft in a collar43, rotating with-the shaft and journalledin anon-rotating annular member '44. The latter; membcris provided with diametrally oppositely yoke 46, the yoke extending outwardly of the case in an arm 4'? operating through a suitable slot 48 therefor, in the wall of the case. The

shifting arm 47 is provided with a fixed pivot 49 which may conveniently be carried by a suitable bracket 50, mounted adjacent the slotted, portion of the case wall. The, speedschange control lever 47 may be extended outwardly of the pivot 49, to a preferred point of manipula tion for purposes of speed change selection.

The selection of direction of rotation of the driven pulley 33 with respect to one of the driving pulleys such as 4 or 20, is accomplished as above noted, by moving the driven element 14 of the friction clutch assembly to the rightor left (Fig.1) alongthe splined portion of shaft 11. This control is accomplished in the present example by a control lever 51, arranged externally of the case, and operatively connected with a pivot 52 iournalled as at 53, in the opposite walls of the case, and provided with collars 54 near its opposite ends, to position thepivot against excessive endwise movement. Projecting laterally of the pivot 52 isa plate portion 155 (Fig. 2) which iscentrally recessed as shown and provided with spaced bifurcated portio'nsid,

between the paired furcations of which are pivotally mounted rollers 57. The rollers, according to the direction of movement of the lever so I 51, may be brought selectively into en ement with the opposite inner faces 58 of theclutch element 14, from which it is seen that as the lever 51 is. moved to the left, (Fig. 1) frictional driving e gagement will take place between the clutch head '16 and the gear 9; conversely when the lever 51 is moved to the right, (Fig. 1),. the clutch elements 1516 will first be restored to an intermediate or neutral position and as the lever 51 is moved still further to the ri ht, the

head 15 will be brought into frictional drivin relation with the gear 10, rotating in a direction opposite to that of gear 9.

with respect to the variation of speed ratio resulting from movement of the lever 4'], it is seen from Fig. 1 that with the gear head'a'i'in the position shown, an operative connectionv exists from the driving pulley through one of purposes. Asother gear ratios are desired, the,

same relation of parts prevails except for the substitution of other pairs of driving and driven Igears through axial movement of shaft 38. Asv

the countershaft is moved to the left (Fig. 1),

the gear-clutching head 37 will first clear thepawls in gear 28; will thereafter. occupy. the

space between the groups of pawls of gears 28 and 27, thence being'brought into gear 27 and engaized, operatively, by the pawls therein, -so' that the gears 23 and 2'7 now determine the speed ratio between pulleys 4 and 33. :An analogous relation prevailing as the head 37 is moved progressively into operative relation with gears 26 and 25, successively higher ratios are in turn effected. Obviously, as the shaft '35 is again shifted to the right, the ratios attained are successively lower, being in the reverse order. It is contemplated that, for the usual industrial uses, the lever 51; will be restored to its intermediate or neutral position when the,- lever 471s shiftedfrom one speed ratio to, another.

the gears 9 or 10, thence to shaft 11, thence at a relatively low gear ratio through gears 24 and gears 2528, no objectionable obstruction is- However, in order to avoid any posibilityof locking the mechanism and avoiding any tendency to shear the lugs 38 through a casual simultaneous connection of two or more gears of the groups 2527, with those of the group 2l--24, it will appear that the groups ofpawls in the adjacent gears are spaced apart a distance somewhat offered to this movement. The controlling actuation of the assembly through lever 47, thus takes place by movement of. the lever in a single plane, with all of the advantages of a transmission control of so-called progressive type.

It will appear that, as the gears are meshed at 1 all times, each one with its cooperating or complementary gear, all tendency toward clashing is avoided. It will further-appear that a transmission unit constructed as described, possesses the advantage of employing a shaft member such as 36, which would be necessarilyincluded in the assembly as a countershaft in older prevailing constructions, for a dual purpose; viz., not only as a power take-off shaft, but, according to the relation.

present principle, as a shifting or control element, thus minimizing the number of necessary parts, dispensing with. the numerous minor shifting elements heretofore required in bodily moving a gear or group thereof'from one position to another to effect selection of speed ratios.

It will further appear that the device may be constructed entirely of elements of a sturdy and rugged nature, without difilcult machine work, and may be utilized as a clutch for selecting gear and shaft connection without adding to the weight of transmission units of comparable ca-' pacity, constructed according to older principles.

I claim as my invention: 1. A clutching connection for use between a shaft element and a gear or wheel element coaxial therewith, and in which the elements are relatively axially displaceable to effect connection therebetween, a pair of spaced, spring loaded pawls carried by one of said elements at one side of its axis, an abutment secured to the other element and movable between'said pawls, said pawls being oppositely angularly presented to said abutment, and engageable with op osite faces thereof, the abutment faces being recessed to form seats for the'pawls, tending releasably to maintain the pawls and abutments in operative 2. In a connection for clutching a shaft'element to a gear or wheel element coaxial therewith, and of a type in which one of the elements is axially displaceable to effect a connection therebetween, a pair of 'pawls carried by one element at one side of its axis, an integral pivot portion extended from one margin of each pawl, pivot-conforming journal recesses formed in the pawl carrying element, an abutment secured to the other element and movable between said pawls, spring means associated with each of said pawls and adapted to permit swingable deflection thereof in opposite directions, and tending to urge the pawls, each into bearing relation. with one lateral surface of said abutment.

3. A clutching connection for use between a shaft element and a gear orwheel element coaxial therewith, said connection including a pair of spring-pressed pawls on one element, normally disposed in substantially parallel relation, and oppositely angularly presented with respect to the axis of the pawl-carrying element, the pawls being provided with enlarged, partly cylindrical pivot portions, and the pawl-carrying element provided with correspondingly formed pawljournalling recesses, an abutment carried by the other element and movable between the pawls,

.to effect a driving relation between the elements,

and a camming surface adjacent the ends of the abutment, and adapted upon axial movement of one of the elements, to deflect the pawls, except when positioned to receive the abutment therebetween. g

4. In a clutching device for'use between a shaft element and a gear or wheel-element coaxialtherewith, and in connection with which the elements are relatively axially displaceable to effect connection therebetween, a pair of.

spring pressed pawls carried by one of the elements, pawl-journalling recesses formed in the last said element, an abutment carried by the other element, and adapted to be moved between the paired pawls; and a curved, pawl-defleeting channel formed on sai'dsabutment, andv providing a recessed seat nding to retain in operative position, the pawl en'gaged thereby.

5. -In a clutching connection for use between .a shaft element and a gear or wheel element coaxial therewith, and according to which the elements are relatively axially displaceable to elfect connection therebetween, a pair of yieldably mounted pawls pivotally carried in opposed spaced relation by one element, a hollow pawljournalling recess formed in the last said element to define a path of movement of each pawl, an abutment carried by the other element, and

movable into the space between said pawls, the

abutment being longitudinally channeled to receive and tend to retain the contiguous portions of the pawls, said pawls being disposed substantially chordwise at one side of the axis of said elements, and means, operable upon relative axial displacement of the element, to prevent endwise or axial impingement of said abutment and either of said pawls.

6. In a connection for clutching a shaft element to a-gear' or wheel element coaxial therewith, and in connection with which, one of the elements is axially displaceable to effect a connection therebetween, a pair of pawls carried by one of said elements, an abutment structure providing pawl seats and movable between the pawls, the. abutting margins of said pawls being of rounded or curved aspect, and. the abutment structure' being provided with correspondingly grooved surfaces adapted to receive and seat the curved pawl portions, when the elements are relatively moved to bring said abutment structure providing pawl seats, and movable between the pawls, the abutting margins of. each'of said pawls being of rounded or curved aspect, the

abutment structure being provided with correspondingly grooved surfaces adapted to receive and seat the curved pawl portions, and curved pawl-deflecting surfaces disposed at the ends of said abutment structure and adapted to deflect the pawls except whenthe abutment structure is angularly -so positioned as to be operatively engaged by the pawls.

8. A connection for clutching a shaft element 'to a gear or wheel element coaxial with the shaftyand in connection with which the elements are relatively axially displaceable to efiect clutching connection therebetween, the wheel element being provided with an axial opening forming a bore therethrough, two pairs'of pawls, pivotally mounted within the wheel element, the pawls of each pair being normally disposed in alignment chordwise of said bore, a spring for each pawl tending to force the pawls of each pair into aligned relation, a pocket for each pawl into which the pawl is adapted to be pivotally deflected against the loading of its spring, to bring the pawl substantially out of the bore, shoulders formed adjacent the bore and constituting stops for limiting the angular movement of the pawls, each of thepawls being provided I at its innermost end with a blunt, rounded driving edge, a clutching head carriedby the shaft element, and having angularly spaced radial abutments of an axial length corresponding substantially to that of the pawls, each of said abutments being characterized by recesses or grooves adapted to receive and seat the rounded driving edges of the pawls, the spacing of the pawls of each pair and the width of each 01 said abutments being such that, upon axial movement of one of the said wheel or shaft elements, the abutments are each receivable between and substantially in bridging relation to a pair of the pawls, and a camming surface at each opposite end of each of said abutments, adapted, upon relative axial displacement of the elements, to deflect the pawls toward the pockets therefor, except when the elements are angularlyso posh tioned as to receive the abutments between the 20 paired pawls. EUGENE S. BUSH. 

